A Deep and Painful Cut

(Just so no one worries - everyone is FINE)

It is getting to be that time of year when a few dogs start to get cut from the main string.
By far the majority of the cuts will be expected ones - mostly young dogs that just need a bit more maturity before being ready for a tough season - however yesterday an unexpected cut was made - Sprite.

Sprite got a puncture wound in her rib cage area about 5 or 6 weeks ago. At first it was healing fine, but then it started to show signs of infection. We put her on a round of antibiotics but then an odd bump form behind the open wound. Our vet figured it was scar tissue and removed it a week or so before I left for Michigan.
There are a number more details to the story, but the long and short of it is that another lump of scar tissue formed.
It was removed on Tuesday and Sprite will be fine, but she has a drain tube put in and it will be 6 weeks before she can get back into harness.
Sadly, that is just too much time off for her to catch up with the rest of the team.

Sprite is a top notch leader. In fact, she was one of the leaders that took me under the burled arch in Nome in '08. She is one tough gal and she will be sorely missed this season.

Right now she is enjoying house time. She is stalking the cats through the patio doors and generally scaring the heck out of Bet (Sprite is tough and Bet - who is the opposite of tough - knows it!).

We are just grateful that all will be well in the long run!

Karen

PS. I asked her if she would pose for a picture for the blog, but she wasn't interested in showing her gnarly drainage tube to the world!